Fender flairing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The reverse curl on the end of an arcuate fender is roll-formed between a stationary curved die and a movable roller die which is rolled along the stationary die.

United States Patent Gasiorowski [4 1 June 27, 1972 54] FENDER FLAIRINGAPPARATUS [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Roman J. Gasiorowski,Little Rock, Ark. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1244 422 /1917 Carter ..72/215 XM t d [731 Assgnee A F e 2,202,016 5/1940 McCutcheon ....72/215 x [22]Filed: April 6, 1970 3,009,201 11/1961 Hansen ..72/215 X [21] Appl' No:952 Primary Examiner--Milton S. Mehr Attorney-George W. Price and WalterLewis [52] US. Cl 72/215 [51] Int.Cl ..B2ld 7/02 [57] ABSTRACT [58]Field of Search g 5 The reverse curl on the end of an arcuate fender isroll-formed I between a stationary curved die and a movable roller diewhich is rolled along the stationary die.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Q I J I I 24, a 22 v O 7 1 1 3 mm, H IF 1111 11:! Mi, 11 1', x T Y)\\IA\ 1W: n a 1.2w,100161011111 iv; v 1 13 I2"F E:'- -::1ll 'ilL".

PATENTEDJUHZ? I972 SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOR. ROMAN J. GASIOROWSKI BY %/WATFRNEY PATENTEnJunzv 1972 3,672,198

SHEET u 0F 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ROMAN J. GASIOROWSKI ATTORNEY FENDER FLAIRING APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to a fender flairing apparatus, and more particularly,to apparatus for forming the reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheetmetal fender.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus forforming said above mentioned reverse curl in a low cost manner.

Briefly, in the invention the apparatus roll forms said reverse curl.

Inthe prior art said reverse curl is formed by annealing the end of thefender and then intermittently hammering the fender end into a reversecurl. The hammering starts at the outerrnost tip of the fender andprogresses inward. In the invention the advantages of natural flow ofthe material is used by rolling starting at a point inward of the outerfender end and then working outwardly. Annealing isn't necessary,rolling isn't as noisey as with hammering, and the rolling process ismuch faster. That is to say, the output of the rolling apparatus isabout eight times that of the prior art method and apparatus.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularly in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its organization and operation, together withfurther 1 objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference tothe following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of my improved apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bicycle fender formed by my apparatus;and

FIGS; 6 & 7 are side elevation views similar to FIG. I but showing therelative positions of the parts at the start and finish of the rollforming operation.

The apparatus comprises a bed plate 10 having a stationary arcuateshaped backing die 11 positioned thereon. The trailing end of thebacking die 11 has a reverse curved portion 12. Positioned above the'die 11 isa clamp 13. This is for the purpose of clamping an arcuateshaped wheel fender form 14 in the die- 11 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 6'. Positioned above the reversecurved end portion 12 of die 11 isa roller die 15. The roller die 15 is pressed against the backing die 11and caused to roll therealong toform a reverse curl in the lower end ofthe fender 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7 thefinished fender is indicated by reference numeral 14', and this fenderis shown inperspective view in FIG. 5. In the illustrated product, areverse curl is put in the trailing end of a rear bicycle fender.However, the invention can also be used to reverse curl the leading endof a front bicycle fender. The clamp 13 is operated closed by a pair ofair cylinders 16 having piston rods 17 protruding therefrom. The clamp13 is mounted on a plate 13' which is connected to the outer ends of thetwo piston rods 17. An air cylinder 18 is also provided for continuouslyurging the roller die 15 against the backing die 11. Cylinder 18 ispivotally mounted at its upper end on an axis 19. A piston rod 20, seeFIGS. 6 & 7, protrudes downwardly from the air cylinder 18. The rollerdie 15 is rotatably mounted on a rotary axis 21 on the protruding end ofpiston rod by virtue of a yoke 22 connected to the piston rod 20.Inasmuch as the air cylinder 18 is pivotally mounted at its upper endthe roller die 15 can swing in an are about the axis 19.

The means for pivotally mounting the air cylinder 18 comprises anupright frame 23 which is positioned on the bed 10. Opposite sides 24 offrame 23 straddle the stationary die 11, see FIG. 2.

The means for swinging cylinder 18 about its axis 19 so as to pull theroller die l5 along the stationary die 11, and more particularly alongthe reverse curved end portion 12, so as to 1 form the reverse curl inthe fender form 14, will now be described. Positioned on the bed 10adjacent to the reverse curved end portion 12 of stationary die 11 andin alignment therewith is a guideway 25. Mounted in guideway 25 is aslide block 26. Slide block 26 can move back and forth in guideway 25.Atthe end of guideway 25 remote from backing die 11 is a stop 27. Acompression spring is positioned between the slide block 26 and stop 27.When the slide block 26 moves to the right the air cylinder 18 is swungto the right also so as to pull the roller wheel 15 along the reversecurved end portion 12. This is by virtue of a pair of links 29 whichconnect the slide block 26 to the lower end of the air cylinder 18 androller die 15 sub-assembly. At their right hand ends the links 29 arepivotally connected to opposite sides of the slide block 26 and at theirleft hand ends they are pivotally connected to the rotary axis or pin 21for the roller wheel 15. The slide block 26 is moved to the right by avertically movable block 30 positioned above the block 26. The block 26has an inclined surface 31 which is sloped upwardly in a direction awayfrom the curved end portion 12. The vertically movable block 30 has acomplementary inclined surface 32. Block 30 is mounted on a carriage 33which is guided in an up and down direction. When block 30 is lowered soas to engage the surface 32 with the surface 31 the slide block 26 iscaused to slide to the right in a restrained manner by virtue of thespring 28 positioned between block 26 and stop 27.

For purposes of aligning the fender form 14 in the apparatus on thebacking die 11 an indexing means is provided. This indexing meanscomprises a U shaped cantilever'type support 34 connected to the upperend of frame 23. The outer end of support 34 has an indexing pin 35thereon which is adapted to be received by an index hole 36 formed inthe leading end of the fender, see FIG. 5.

Guide means is provided to assist the roller die 15 in correct movementalong the curved end portion 12. The guide means comprise a pair ofcurved guide earns 37 positioned on the inside of the frame sides 24.The guide cams 37 are adjustably mounted on the frame sides 24 by virtueof an adjustable connection 38 with blocks 39 fixed to the frame sides24. That is to say, when the adjusting means 38 is manipulated the guideearns 37 can be raised or lowered with respect to the curved end portion12. The bottom curved surfaces of elements 37 are contouredcomplementary to the curvature of the curved end portion 12. Mounted onopposite ends of the rotary axis 21 of the roller die 15 are cam rollers40. In operation of the apparatus the rollers 40 ride along the bottomsurfaces of the guide earns 37 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the main portion of thebacking die 11 is a planar curved surface having a curva turecomplementary to the lengthwise arcuate shape of the fender form' 14.This portion of the backing die 11 is primarily to nest and clamp thefender in position, such as indicated in FIG. 6. The remaining portionof the stationary backing die 11, that is to say the reverse curved endportion 12, which is the working portion of the backing die, has acurved channel or trough shape. That is to say, it is provided with sidewalls to give side support to the side walls of the fender as it isbeing rolled into a reverse curl.

In operation of the apparatus, the fender form 14 is first positionedinto the machine so that the fender rests on the backing die 11 with thepin 35 inserted into the fender index hole 36. Thereafter the machine isenergized so as to activate the clamping cylinders 16 to cause the clampsupport plate 13' to move down so as to clamp the fender form 14 betweenthe clamp 13 and the backing die 11. The lower curved surface of theclamp 13, of course, has a curvature which is complementary to thecurvature of the backing die 11. Thereafter, the air cylinder'18 isactivated so as to lower the roller die 15 into contact with thetrailing end of the fender form 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6.As the roller die 15 reaches the fender form 14 the carriage 33 isactivated so as to lower the block 3.0 into engagement with the block26. This causes the block 26 to move to the right to swing the aircylinder 18 and roller die 15 sub-assembly in a right hand orcounterclockwise direction about the pivot axis 19. As the block 30continues to move down the block 26 continues to move in a right handdirection and simultaneously the air cylinder 18 continues to lower theroller die for continuous engagement with the trailing end of the fenderform so as to roll the same against the curved end portion 12 byfollowing the curved end portion 12. As the roller die 15 travels alongthe curved end portion 12 so as to roll the reverse curl in the trailingend of the fender the cam rollers 40 are engaged with the curved cams37, see FIG. 7. After the reverse curl is rolled into the fender thecarriage 33 is raised and travel of piston rod is reversed so as tocause the roller die 15 to ride back up on the curved end portion 12 tothe position illustrated in FIG. 6, and then the piston. rod isadditionally raised to return the apparatus to the at rest positionshown in FIG. 1. A stop 24', which is connected to the frame sides 24 isadapted to be abutted by the yoke 22 to limit return travel of the aircylinder 18 and roller die 15 sub-assembly. The spring 28 which wascompressed in the FIG. 7 position, of course, causes the slide lock 26to move in a left hand direction so as to swing the air cylinder 18 in aleft hand or clockwise direction.

The controls which are required for operating the clamp 13, the cylinder18, and the carriage 33 in proper sequence have not been describedinasmuch as it is believed that this is unnecessary for a completeunderstanding of the invention and such controls can follow conventionalpractice in the machine art. Inasmuch as the spring 28 has to becompressed as the roller 15 rides along the curved end portion 12 thisprovides restrained movement of the roller'die 15 during its rollforming operation. However, it should be appreciated that other means,such as fluid means can be provided in place of the spring 28 toaccomplish this restraint and return travel of the slide block 26. Afterthe apparatus returns to the start posiuon shown in FIG. 6 then thecylinder 16 is reversed so as to release the clamp 13 whereupon thefinished fender form 14' can be removed from the apparatus.

Although the cylinders 16 and 18 have been described as air cylinders,it will be appreciated that hydraulic cylinders can be used instead.Especially when hydraulic fluid is used in cylinder 18, higher pressuresare readily obtainable so that the clamping means 13 can be omitted. inother words, when roller 15 reaches the FIG. 6 position it essentiallydoes the clamping. The guide means 37 can also be omitted. That is tosay, clamping means 13 and guide means 37 are not absolutely essentialelements for practice of the invention.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention, andtherefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. Apparatus for forming a reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheetmetal wheel fender, said apparatus comprising a stationary backing die,said backing die being arcuate in shape to nest said fender therein andincluding a reverse curved end portion, means for positioning saidfender in said backing die, and a roller die for rolling the said end ofsaid fender against said reverse curved end portion to form said reversecurl including means for continuously urging said roller die againstsaid backing die and simultaneously pulling said roller die along saidreverse curved end portion, wherein said continuously urging meanscomprises a cylinder having a piston rod protruding therefrom, saidcylinder being pivotally mounted on an axis above said backing die, saidroller die being positioned between said backing die and cylinder onsaid piston rod, and means for swinging said cylinder about said axis topull said roller die along said reverse curved end portion. 2. inapparatus as in claim 1, said swinging means comprising a guideway whichis aligned with said. backing die, a slide' block in said guideway, linkmeans having a pivotal connection at its opposite ends with said slideblock and the outer end of said piston rod whereby when said slide blockis moved in its fuideway said cylinder is swunig about its swin axis. I

In apparatus as 111 claim wherern sar roller dre is mounted on the outerend of said piston rod on a rotary axis therefor, said link meanscomprising a pair of links pivotally connected at their opposite ends toopposite sides of said slide block and opposite ends of said rotaryaxis, a stop at the end of said guideway remote from said backing die,and a compression spring positioned between said stop and slide block toprovide restrained movement of said slide block toward said stop.

4. ln apparatus as in claim 3, said backing die and guideway beingpositioned on a stationary bed, an upright frame positioned on said bed,said frame having opposite sides straddling said backing die, saidcylinder being pivotally mounted on the upper end of said frame, a pairof guide cams positioned on said opposite frame sides above said backingdie, said guide cams having a curvature similar to said reversed curvedend portion, and a pair of roller cams mounted on the opposite ends ofsaid roller die rotary axis, said roller cams being engaged with saidguide cams as said cylinder is swung by said slide block to pull saidroller die along said reversed curved end portion, whereby said reversecurl is roll formed between said roller die and reversed curved endportion.

5. ln apparatus as in claim 4, another cylinder for operating means forclamping said fender in said backing die, said positioning meanscomprising index means engageable with the other end of said fender forproperly aligning said fender in said backing die, the upper surface ofsaid slide block having an inclined surface formed thereon which slopesupwardly in a direction away from said backing die, and a verticallymovable block positioned above said slide block, said vertically movableblock having an inclined surface formed thereon which is complementaryto the slide block inclined surface, whereby when said verticallymovable block is lowered to engage said slide block the slide block ismoved in a direction to compress said compression spring.

l i i i i

1. Apparatus for forming a reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheetmetal wheel fender, said apparatus comprising a stationary backing die,said backing die being arcuate in shape to nest said fender therein andincluding a reverse curved end portion, means for positioning saidfender in said backing die, and a roller die for rolling the said end ofsaid fender against said reverse curved end portion to form said reversecurl including means for continuously urging said roller die againstsaid backing die and simultaneously pulling said roller die along saidreverse curved end portion, wherein said continuously urging meanscomprises a cylinder having a piston rod protruding therefrom, saidcylinder being pivotally mounted on an axis above said backing die, saidroller die being positioned between said backing die and cylinder onsaid piston rod, and means for swinging said cylinder about said axis topull said roller die along said reverse curved end portion.
 2. Inapparatus as in claim 1, said swinging means comprising a guideway whichis aligned with said backing die, a slide block in said guideway, linkmeans having a pivotal connection at its opposite ends with said slideblock and the outer end of said piston rod whereby when said slide blockis moved in its guideway said cylinder is swung about its swing axis. 3.In apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said roller die is mounted on theouter end of said piston rod on a rotary axis therefor, said link meanscomprising a pair of links pivotally connected at their opposite ends toopposite sides of said slide block and opposite ends of said rotaryaxis, a stop at the end of said guideway remote from said backing die,and a compression spring positioned between said stop and slide block toprovide restrained movement of said slide block toward said stop.
 4. Inapparatus as in claim 3, said backing die and guideway being positionedon a stationary bed, an upright frame positioned on said bed, said framehaving opposite sides straddling said backing die, said cylinder beingpivotally mounted on the upper end of said frame, a pair of guide camspositioned on said opposite frame sides above said backing die, saidguide cams having a curvature similar to said reversed curved endportion, and a pair of roller cams mounted on the opposite ends of saidroller die rotary axis, said roller cams being engaged with said guidecams as said cylinder is swung by said slide block to pull said rollerdie along said reversed curved end portion, whereby said reverse curl isroll formed between said roller die and reversed curved end portion. 5.In apparatus as in claim 4, another cylinder for operating means forclamping said fender in said backing die, said positioning meanscomprising index means engageable with the other end of said fender forproperly aligning said fender in said backing die, the upper surface ofsaid slide block having an inclined surface formed thereon which slopesupwardly in a direction away from said backing die, and a verticallymovable block positioned above said slide block, said vertically movableblock having an inclined surface formed thereon which is complementaryto the slide block inclined surface, whereby when said verticallymovable block is lowered to engage said slide block the slide block ismoved in a direction to compress said compression spring.